THE CHATEAU ISOLATED

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 8

THE CHATEAU ISOLATED

BRIDGE CARRIED AWAY

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, March 21,

. A terrific cloudburst on Mount Euapehu today caused a phenomenal flooding of the mountain streams and the washing away of a large wooden bridge over the Whakapapanui River a mile below the' Chateau. As a result the hotel is completely isolated and 25 guests at present accommodated there will be marooned until a temporary structure can be erected.

The bridge came down at about 5 o'clock this evening. A party /of motorists driving to the Chateau found their car suddenly on the brink of the Gorge, which was running bank high. The car was pulled up just in time, for it was found that the bridge.had disappeared. The motorists drove back and informed the superintendent of Erua Prison of their discovery.

Realising the danger of leaving the road unguarded at night, he dispatched prison warders to. the turn-off to the Chateau from the main National Park-Tokaanu Road, and all traffic to the Chateau is being turned back tonight. At the same time the manager of the hotel, Mr. B. Cobbe, made an inspection of the gorge and arranged for a wire rope, to be thrown across the stream so that essential stores and mails can be transported. The Public ' Works Department and Prison Department have taken steps to construct a temporary:^traffic bridge, in the morning. This will enable motor traffic to cross the stream pending the erection of another permanent structure.

The damage caused by the swollen streams includes the destruction of the partially completed works constructed by,the Public-Work Department above the Chateau in connection with the hydro-electric scheme for the hotel.

Ah inspection reveals that the boxing installed in the stream for the reception of the concrete has been washed away. It has been raining steadily since Saturdav. :

Guide C. Taylor reports that warm rain^ has melted an enormous amount of _ice on .the . Whakapapa Glacier, which feeds the Whakapapanui River. In fact, he has never seen such a small quantity of ice on the glacier before. , This morning a deluge set in, accompanied by an electrical storm. The stream rose rapidly, and this afternoon was running about loft high.

. The rainfall at the Chateau yesterday was 1\ inches, 13 inches having fallen there since Saturday, according to a report furnished to the Meteorological Office.